The British spell "check" (as in payment) as "cheque," but they spell "check" as in "run an eye over" the same as Americans. They spell "curb" as "kerb". In both cases, they would argue that it separates two words that sound the same but can have different meanings. ("Place rubbish on the kerb" vs. "Curb your appetite".) There is a country retreat called Chequers where the Prime Minister goes when he wants a brief vacation. But for the game, Brits don't call it "chequers" or "checkers" -- to them, it's "draughts" (and pronounced as "drafts.")